Autoharp.



No. 757,890. PATENTED APR. 19, 1904.

E. E. GRUGBR.

AUTOHARP. APPLICATION FILED NOV.14, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

ers atent No. 757,890.

Correcti UNITED STATES Patented April 19, 1904.

PATENT QFFICE.

AUTOHARP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,890, dated April 19, 1904.

Application filed November 14:, 1902. Serial No. 131,441. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, ELLIS ELBERT CRUGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stevensville, in the county of Ravalli and State of Montana, have invented an Improvement in Autoharps, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in autoharps in which the bars move horizontally across the autoharp-body.

The objects of my improvement are, first, to produce the three principal chords in all the twenty-four different major and minor keys; second, to produce any major key with its corresponding minor key without changing the position horizontally of the bars. I obtain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an autoharp with my improvement attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section through the instrument. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section.

The body of the autoharp, the top of which is shown in the drawings marked thus, 1, is made the same as common autoharp-bodies, excepting the shape, which is made wider to furnish surface on which the movable bars may slide. The strings are fastened on the autoharp in the same manner as on autoharps now in use. Any number of strings may be used; but the strings must be placed the same distance apart on the autoharp. The bars 13 14 15 16 17 18 are set on strings contained in the end boxes 19 and 20, the same as in autoharps now in use. They are made the same as ordinary bars, but must be long enough to carry mutes for twelve strings more than are now used on autoharps. The end boxes 19 and 20 keep their same relative distance to each other by means of two steel rods which pass below the strings and through the end boxes. Only one steel rod, 21, shows in the illustration. The other rod passes through the other end of the end boxes, and each rod after passing through end box 19 terminates in a hook 22, which is caught in one of the holes 1, 2, 3, 4:, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12, and thus keeps the bars in position horizontally.

The mutes should be placed or arranged on 5 bars 13, 14, and 15 to produce the three chords 'in a major key, and on bars 16, 17, and 18 the mutes should be arranged to produce the three chords in its corresponding minor. Thus if bar 13 is muted to produce the C major chord when the hooks 22 are in the holes 1 bar 1 1 should be muted to produce the G seventh chord, bar 15 the F major chord, bar 16 the A minor chord, bar 17 the E seventh chord, bar 18 the D minor chord. When the bars are muted in the foregoing manner and the hooks 22 raised, the bars slid to the right in the grooves formed by the top of the autoharp-body and four triangular blocks 23 (only three blocks being visible in the drawings) until the hooks will go into holes 2, the bars will then produce chords one-half tone higher than in their former positionviz., the three chords in the key of Db major, with the three chords in the key of B 7 minor. If the bars are slid until the hooks go into the holes 3, the bars will then produce the three chords in the key of D major and the three chords in its corresponding minor, (B minor.) Theholes must be the same distance apart as the strings. It will be seen that each time the bars are moved one position to the right the bars produce chords one-half tone higher than in the previous position. Each of the twelve positions will produce a major key with its corresponding minor.

A pleasing effect and added usefulness may be obtained by using two separate sets of six bars each muted the same, placed side to side,

and sliding independently of each other. two sets of bars are used, any two major keys, with their corresponding minor keys, may be played without changing the position of the bars horizontally on the harp.

I am aware that prior to this invention autoharps have been made .and used with bars carrying mutes and each bar producing from one to three different chords. Itherefore do not elaim this idea as my invention; but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

An autoharp comprising the body portion having spaced-apart guideways on opposite sides thereof and rows of openings in one side of the body portion between its guideways, and boxes having bars with mutes thereon lOO movable in the guideways on both sides of the to this specification in the presence of two subbody, and rods slecurecll to the bloxes having scribing Witnesses. encs projecting t iroug'l one of tie boxes and "1 a V1 1 1 1- provided With hooks to engage the openings ELLLS LLBERl ChUUEh' 5 in the body whereby to adjust said boxes in the WVitnesses:

desired positions, substantially as specified. O. B. GALKINs, In testimony whereof I have signed my name S. SEDGWIQK.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent- No. 757,890, granted April 19, 1904,

upon the application of Ellis Elbert Cruger, of Stevensville, Montana, for an improve ment in Autoharps, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correc- 5 tion, as follows: In line 33, page 7, the Word strings should read springs; and '3 that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice. Signed and sealed this 19th day of July, A. 1)., 1904.

[SEAL] E. B. MOORE Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

